Jets-Eagles rewind: Rex Ryan calls game one of worst during his tenure

Rex Ryan’s vow was that as soon as his conference call with the media was over Monday morning, the 45-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles would be behind his team. The Jets have no choice but to move on quickly, as they are on a short week and facing as close to a must-win game as they have had all season.

But in order to win their final two games, the Jets must learn from and fix the mistakes and miscues that plagued them in Philadelphia last week. So here’s a look back at five things from Sunday’s game, a performance Ryan called maybe the worst of his tenure -- other than last year’s 45-3 massacre at New England, of course.

1. Protecting the QB

Ryan said it was unfair to single out one player for the protection breakdowns, though RT Wayne Hunter struggled with NFL sack-leader Jason Babin all night. Hunter was twice penalized for false starts and was involved in two of the four sacks the Jets gave up. Babin beat Hunter around the edge on the first and later, Hunter stayed locked on the end, leaving the right side of the line unable to account for Babin. Sanchez was also hit two other times when Babin came off Hunter’s blocks, including the third-quarter play on which Sanchez appeared to injure his neck. Babin got the Jets from all over the field, sometimes standing up and weaving his way through the protection, but this was nothing the Jets said they didn’t expect.

The captain apologized to his coach for mocking the Eagles during his touchdown celebration in the first half Sunday, drawing a taunting penalty. When Holmes mimicked the “Fly, Eagles, Fly” chant after his 25-yard touchdown catch, the score was 28-9. Ryan was under the impression that Holmes didn’t know it is illegal to use the ball as a prop, however Holmes said unequivocally after the game that he did know. All this came after Holmes was responsible for two turnovers in the first nine minutes of the game, a fumble after a 7-yard catch and an interception after a well-executed pass from QB Mark Sanchez went right through his hands. Holmes said he never fumbles, but this was his second of the year. He also had two lost fumbles in 12 games last year, a high number for a receiver.

3. Mark Sanchez

Sanchez earns points for toughness, never missing a play even after he came off the field in so much pain, he had to be helped by C Nick Mangold. But he took a step back in the turnover department, throwing two interceptions after two pick-free weeks and also losing the football on a fumble. The first interception was on Holmes, not Sanchez. The second interception was probably a throw he shouldn’t have made, to Holmes on the slant, which Eagles CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was able to undercut and deflect into the arms of his teammate. This play was reminiscent of Andre Goodman’s pick-six at Denver, on a slant route on the same side of the field to WR Plaxico Burress. Sanchez’s fumble -- the team’s 15th lost fumble of the season, tied for first in the league -- came on a broken play. RB LaDainian Tomlinson went left, while Sanchez looked to hand off right, so he had no choice but to take off and try to run for the first down. DT Mike Patterson engulfed him from behind.

4. Covering TE Brent Celek

Ryan called Celek “a little-bit-better-than-average tight end in this league” but he did a lot of damage with five catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. He had a 38-yard catch on the Eagles’ opening drive, and then put the Eagles up 14-0 with his 26-yard touchdown catch. Eric Smith said the Jets were in a man coverage, and it appeared as though Celek was CB Antonio Cromartie’s man. Celek looked like he was faking across the formation but wound up angling back to the left side, losing Cromartie. Near the goal line, Smith said, there wasn’t enough time to react. Later, in the third quarter, Celek sapped the Jets’ momentum with a 73-yard catch. LB David Harris took responsibility, saying it was an out-and-up route, and he bit on the out while Celek ran the up. Smith explained that the Jets’ coverage called for the safety to roll to one side and vacate the middle of the field and the opposite sideline. Celek ran into the hole in their coverage, and S Brodney Pool had to hustle across to knock Celek out at the 1-yard line.

Among all the reasons to be frustrated Sunday was the Jets’ waste of what Ryan called a “great effort” by their special teams. After a string of recent special teams fumbles, Ryan said his players were eager to prove Mike Westhoff has not lost a step as a great special-teams coach. The Jets forced two special-teams turnovers to give them some life in the first half, on a punt and a kickoff, both recovered by DB Ellis Lankster. Cromartie, returning most of the kickoffs in place of Joe McKnight, had an impressive 29.2 yards per return, including a long of 42 yards.